EC set to unveil green hydrogen rules next Thursday - report

The European Commission (EC) is expected to release the additionality rules that will set the requirements for renewable hydrogen on December 15, EURACTIV reported on Friday, citing German social democrat Jens Geier, who is the European parliament’s lead negotiator on parts of the hydrogen and gas package.

The delay of the rules for green hydrogen is seen as an obstacle to the ramp-up of this market in Europe. At the same time, the date of December 15 could provide little time for consultations, the article notes.

Do you know we have a daily hydrogen newsletter? Subscribe here for free!

Additionality rules are needed to avoid the cannibalisation of existing wind and solar generation. They are aimed at ensuring that renewable hydrogen is produced at times and at places where renewable electricity is available, as stated in the draft document, which has been seen and published by EURACTIV. According to the draft rules, there should be a quarterly correlation between renewable generation and hydrogen production and a geographical correlation in terms of being located in the same electricity bidding zone.

Geier was cited as telling reporters in Berlin that the new draft of the regulations is “the best I have seen so far in terms of content.”